When Teen Idols Grow Up

Miley Cyrus

Between her cleavage-baring dresses, salvia-smoking videos and that photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz, it's become increasingly apparent that Miley Cyrus has no intentions of being identified with "Hannah Montana" for the rest of her life. She drove that point home with the release of her 2010 album "Can't Be Tamed" and a single of the same name, accompanied by a risque video that helped her shed her "good girl" image while simultaneously scandalizing her young fan base.- Xfinity Music Programmers

(Photo: Marc Ausset-Lacroix, Getty Images)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

More from this Slideshow

At the ripe old age of 18, Justin Bieber is starting the inevitable transition from teen pop icon to Serious Artist.

In honor of the "Baby" singer's journey to manhood, we took a look back at other teen idols who tried to ditch their wholesome image in favor of something more grown up - some more successfully than others.- Xfinity Music Programmers

(Photos: Getty Images)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Between her cleavage-baring dresses, salvia-smoking videos and that photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz, it's become increasingly apparent that Miley Cyrus has no intentions of being identified with "Hannah Montana" for the rest of her life. She drove that point home with the release of her 2010 album "Can't Be Tamed" and a single of the same name, accompanied by a risque video that helped her shed her "good girl" image while simultaneously scandalizing her young fan base.- Xfinity Music Programmers

(Photo: Marc Ausset-Lacroix, Getty Images)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

In 2007, a 19-year-old Rihanna began the transition from good girl to bad with the helpfully titled "Good Girl Gone Bad," which was followed two years later by the even more explicit "Rated R." Still, few were prepared for the shocking turn the Barbadian beauty would take on her 2011 single "S&M," which glorified sex, sadomasochism, bondage and fetishes.- Xfinity Music Programmers

(Photo: Brendon Thorne, Getty Images)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Spears' transformation from seemingly innocent Lolita to sweaty sex kitten came in stages, beginning with the "Oops!... I Did It Again" chorus chant of "I'm not that innocent." Any doubts over that statement were erased with her coming-of-age anthem "I'm a Slave 4 U" and the accompanying video, in which she writhes in a sauna while being groped by her dancers. The sizzling single was followed up by the almost comically innocent "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman."- Xfinity Music Programmers

(Photo: Frank Micelotta, Getty Images)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

The girl once best known as the voice of Disney's "Mulan" obliterated her "girl next door" image in one shot with the release of "Dirrty," a raunchy track accompanied by an even raunchier video depicting a chaps-wearing Aguilera intermixed with shots of various sexual fetishes. While some applauded the self-dubbed "Xtina" for her bravery, others lamented the fact that her new sexually charged image negated the fact that, unlike so many of her teen pop peers, Aguilera could really sing.- Xfinity Music Programmers

(Photo: Mark Mainz, Getty Images)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

No one could have predicted during 'N Sync's heyday that the boy known best as "the one with the bleached curly hair" would one day redefine pop coolness. But with the release of "Like I Love You," the lead single from his solo debut "Justified," Timberlake quickly silenced the haters and turned himself into a sex symbol for both his pre-existing fans and their moms.- Xfinity Music Programmers

(Photo: Liaison, Getty Images)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

After exiting R&B boy band New Edition, which he had joined at the ripe old age of 9, a decidedly grown-up Brown made a ferocious comeback with the New Jack Swing anthem "My Prerogative," a defiant, sinister-sounding pop hit that announced Brown's arrival as a force to be reckoned with. - Xfinity Music Programmers

(Photo: Reed Saxon, AP Images)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

By 1994, the five New "Kids" were in their early to mid-20s. Already facing waning popularity, the group rebranded itself as NKOTB and released an album with a "harder," more grown up sound, spearheaded by the slightly misogynistic single "Dirty Dawg." The tactical move did earn the group some points with critics, but it was a commercial disaster, selling a tiny fraction of the band's previous bubblegum efforts.- Xfinity Music Programmers

(Photo: Dave Hogan, Hulton Archive, Getty Images)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Michael's little sis distinguished herself on the mid-'80s classic "Control" as a strong and fierce woman, but it wasn't until 1993's "Janet" that she declared sexual independence. The former "Let's Wait Awhile" singer shrugged off her conservative image and embraced her sultry side with lyrics about everything from threesomes to bondage. The track "Throb" left little to the imagination.- Xfinity Music Programmers

(Photo: Douglas C. Pizac, AP Images)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Eight years ago, Hilary Duff was best known as the squeaky-clean blonde on Disney's "Lizzie McGuire." Her debut album "Metamorphosis" hinted at a sea change, but its bubblegum pop sound did little more than cement her "girl next door" status. She fixed that problem in a hurry with the release of the single "Reach Out" and the accompanying video, in which she gets intimate with a marble statue, a tree trunk, and a few shirtless dudes.- Xfinity Music Programmers

(Photo: Evan Agostini, Getty Images)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

A seemingly more wholesome alternative to teen pop tarts Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, this professed virgin tried sexy on for size in her 2001 single "Irresistible." An exercise in G-rated seduction, the song nevertheless introduced the world to a grown-up Simpson just in time for her to wreck her image on "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica."- Xfinity Music Programmers

(Photo: Dan Callister, Getty Images)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.